Churchill Downs Stakes Advances: Ellis Park Juvenile Winner Comport Headlines Saturday's Grade III, $300,000 Iroquois -- One of Five Opening Weekend Stakes

Sep 08, 2025

The Road to Kentucky Derby 152 will begin Saturday at Churchill Downs where Joseph Sutton’s Ellis Park Juvenile winner Comport headlines a field of 10 aspiring 2-year-olds entered in the 44th running of the $300,000 Iroquois Stakes (Grade III).

Run at one mile, the Iroquois will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale toward a berth in next spring’s Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI). The race is one of five stakes on an 11-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). Other stakes events are the $300,000 Pocahontas (GIII), the kickoff to the Road to the Kentucky Oaks; $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove (GII); $300,000 Open Mind (Listed); and $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society (Listed). The Iroquois goes as Race 8 at 4:26 p.m.

Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Comport scored the first stakes victory of his young career when he won last month’s Ellis Park Juvenile. Prior to that win, Comport broke his maiden on debut during the Spring Meet at Churchill Downs and finished second in the Bashford Manor behind Romeo. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who was in the irons for the Ellis Park Juvenile, will have the return call in the Iroquois from post No. 7.

The field for the Iroquois also includes Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Spice Runner, runner-up to Comport in the Ellis Park Juvenile. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Spice Runner won his debut in late May at Churchill Downs before finishing fifth in the Bashford Manor. He set the pace in the Ellis Park Juvenile but tired in the final furlong to finish second. Jockey Jose Ortiz will ride from post 5.

Asmussen has previously won the Iroquois with Lucky Player (2014), Astrology (2010) and Theskyhasnolimit (2009).

The field for the Iroquois from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Nothing Personal (Jamie Rodriguez, Greg Compton)
Sometime (Luan Machado, Mark Simms)
No More Cents (Irad Ortiz Jr., Kenny McPeek)
So Special (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek)
Spice Runner (Ortiz, Asmussen)
Shake and Rattle (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux)
Comport (Gaffalione, Kenneally
Vost (Florent Geroux, Will Walden)
Nine Ball (Jaime Torres, Riley Mott)
Maximus Prime (Luis Saez, Anthony Mitchell)

The Iroquois is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Dirt Dozen” series where the top three finishers earn credits toward entry fees in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) on Friday, Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Saturday’s program also features College Day at Churchill Downs where $20,000 in scholarships will be awarded to college students in partnership with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. Along with the scholarship giveaways, fans will have the opportunity to meet and take photos with Bellarmine University’s men’s basketball team. Admission is free with a valid student ID.

To watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs, visit www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.

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ROAD TO KENTUCKY OAKS 152 BEGINS SATURDAY WITH GRADE III, $300,000 POCAHONTAS – Respect the Valley’s undefeated 2-year-old filly Dazzling Dame will look to begin her Road to the Kentucky Oaks on Saturday when she faces five rivals in the 57th running of the $300,000 Pocahontas (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

The one-mile Pocahontas is the opening race of the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks,” a series that awards qualifying points toward a berth in the 152nd running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 1, 2026. The Pocahontas will go as Race 6 at 3:21 p.m. (all times Eastern) on Saturday’s 11-race program, which begins at 12:45 p.m.

Other stakes on the card include the $300,000 Iroquois (GIII), the Pocahontas’ counterpart on the Road to the Kentucky Derby; $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove (GII); $300,000 Open Mind (Listed); and $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society (Listed).

Trained by Brittany Russell, Dazzling Dame is a perfect 2-for-2 to begin her career. The daughter of Girvin debuted against Maryland-bred company at Laurel with a 5 ¾-length score and then shipped to Monmouth Park to capture the Sorority Stakes by two lengths as the 6-5 favorite. Luis Saez has the mount in the Pocahontas from post 6.

Her opposition includes Shamrock Stables and MJM Racing’s Our Two Girls, who won on debut at Ellis Park for trainer Kenny McPeek. In that race, the daughter of Uncle Mo rallied from just off the pace to defeat 10 rivals by 2 ¼ lengths. Brian Hernandez Jr. rides in the Pocahontas from post 5.

McPeek has won the Pocahontas a record four times: VV’s Dream (2023), Fun and Feisty (2022), Daddys Lil Darling (2016) and Dothraki Queen (2015).

The field for the Pocahontas in order of post position (with jockey and trainer):

Starlit Sky (Tyler Gaffalione, George Weaver
Miss Complicated (Julien Leparoux, Ian Wilkes)
Taken by the Wind (Irad Ortiz Jr., McPeek)
Joke Maker (Luan Machado, Rodolphe Brisset)
Our Two Girls (Hernandez, McPeek)
Dazzling Dame (Saez, Russell)
Embrace the Moment (Jaime Rodriguez, Greg Compton)
The top five finishers in the Pocahontas will receive qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale towards the Kentucky Oaks.

The race is also a part of the Breeders’ Cup “Dirt Dozen” which awards the top three nominated finishers partial entry credits to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) on Friday, Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

MULTIPLE STAKES WINNER ALPINE PRINCESS LEADS FIELD IN GRADE II, $400,000 FASIG-TIPTON LOCUST GROVE – Full of Run Racing II and Madaket Stables’ multiple stakes winner Alpine Princess leads a competitive field of six fillies and mares entered in the 41st running of the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove (Grade II), one of five stakes on Saturday’s card at Churchill Downs.

Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Locust Grove goes as Race 7 on the 11-race program with a post time of 3:54 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

The Locust Grove shares the Saturday spotlight with the $300,000 Iroquois (GIII), the kickoff to the Road to the Kentucky Derby; $300,000 Pocahontas (GIII), the opening leg on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks; $300,000 Open Mind (Listed); and $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society (Listed).

Trained by Brad Cox, Alpine Princess scored a one-length victory two months ago in the Mari Hulman George Memorial Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Prior to that victory, the daughter of Classic Empire notched wins in last year’s Remington Park Oaks and in the 2023 Untapable Stakes during her 2-year-old campaign. Most recently, Alpine Princess finished third as the 4-5 favorite in the Groupie Doll Stakes (Listed) at Ellis Park. She’ll be ridden in Saturday’s race by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post No. 2.

Other entries in the Locust Grove include Breffni Farm’s homebred Royal Spa, the Shawnee (GIII) winner who was runner-up to Thorpedo Anna in the Fleur de Lis (GII) and mostly recently fourth in the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar; Ribble Farms and Front Page Equestrian’s Regaled, runner-up in the Groupie Doll; Payson Stud and RTA Trust’s Corningstone, last year’s runner-up in this race; and Gerald Bruno Jr., Chasey Deville Pomier and Jerry Caroom’s multimillionaire Free Like a Girl.

The field for the Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Regaled (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman)
Alpine Princess (Ortiz, Cox)
Royal Spa (Tyler Gaffalione, Rodolphe Brisset)
Corningstone (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek)
Free Like a Girl (Corey Lanerie, Chasey Deville Pomier)
Our Pretty Woman (Luis Saez, Steve Asmussen)
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

BENTORNATO RETURNS IN $300,000 LOUISVILLE THOROUGHBRED SOCIETY – Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) runner-up, will make his first start since March in Saturday’s fifth running of the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

Run at six furlongs, the Louisville Thoroughbred Society will go as Race 10 on the 11-race program. First post is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the field for the Louisville Thoroughbred Society set to break at 5:29 p.m.

Trained by Jose D’Angelo, Bentornato will make his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Sprint where he finished a game second to Straight No Chaser. Prior to that start, the Florida-bred won the Gallant Bob Stakes (GII) at Parx and finished third in the Saudi Derby (GIII). Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society from post No. 3.

Also entered in the race is WinStar Farm and BBN Racing’s Grade II winner World Record. Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, the 4-year-old son of Gun Runner exits a third-place finish in the Bing Crosby (GI) at Del Mar six weeks ago. His resumé is highlighted by a 6 ¾-length win in last year’s Amsterdam (GII) at Saratoga along with a runner-up finish to Durante in the Aristides (GIII). Tyler Gaffalione will ride from post 1.

Other accomplished sprinters in the field include Red Lane Thoroughbreds’ 12-time winner Skelly; Rancho Temescal, Rancho Thoroughbred Partners, White Fence and Richard Hale Jr.’s Kelly’s Landing (GIII) winner Roll On Big Joe; and David Jacobson’s 10-time winner Durante.

The Louisville Thoroughbred Society field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

World Record (Gaffalione, Brisset)
Roll On Big Joe (Julien Leparoux, Bob Hess Jr.)
Bentornato (Irad Ortiz Jr., D’Angelo)
Here Mi Song (Edgar Morales, Billy Stinson Jr.)
Nash (Luan Machado, Brad Cox)
Ajaayb (Mario Gutierrez, Gustavo Esquivel)
Little Ni (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse)
Durante (Jaime Torres, David Jacobson)
Banjo Chris (Brian Hernandez Jr., Glenn Wismer)
Skelly (Luis Saez, Steve Asmussen)
Full Moon Madness (Francisco Arrieta, Michelle Nevin)
Saturday’s program features four other stakes: the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove (GII); $300,000 Iroquois (GIII), the kickoff to the Road to the Kentucky Derby; $300,000 Pocahontas (GIII), the opening leg on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks; and $300,000 Open Mind (Listed).

Fans can watch and wager on all the action on www.twinspires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

GRADE I WINNER POSITANO SUNSET TOPS $300,000 OPEN MIND – Six Column Stables, Randy Bloch, John Seiler and David Hall’s Grade I winner Positano Sunset will headline a compact field of six filly and mare sprinters entered in Saturday’s 16th running of the $300,000 Open Mind at Churchill Downs.

The 6 ½-furlong Open Mind is scheduled as Race 9 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). Post time for the Open Mind is 4:58 p.m.

The program also features the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove (GII); $300,000 Iroquois (GIII), the kickoff to the Road to the Kentucky Derby; $300,000 Pocahontas (GIII), the opening leg of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks; and $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society (Listed).

Trained by Ian Wilkes, Positano Sunset notched the top victory in her career this spring when she rallied from off the pace to win the Madison (GI) at Keeneland. A 5-year-old daughter of Goldencents, she owns five wins from 17 starts with earnings of $869,463. Last year, Positano Sunset finished second in the Open Mind, beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Zeitlos. She drew post No. 4 with Julien Leparoux in the irons.

Another top filly entered in the race is Juddmonte’s Groupie Doll Stakes (Listed) winner Impel. Trained by Brad Cox, Impel is a four-time winner from 10 starts. As a 3-year-old, she competed against some of the top horses in the country, finishing third in the Ashland (GI) and second in the Eight Belles (GII). In the Groupie Doll, Impel dug in late to hold off Regaled by head, to notch her first-career stakes victory. Florent Geroux has the mount in Saturday’s race out of post 6.

The field for the Open Mind, in order of post-position (with jockey and trainer):

Gray Lightning (Orlando Mojica, Armando Hernandez)
Taxed (Tyler Gaffalione, Randy Morse)
Little Prankster (Jose Ortiz, Phil Bauer
Positano Sunset (Leparoux, Wilkes)
Mink’s Palace (Luis Saez, Eddie Kenneally)
Impel (Geroux, Cox)
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated.